Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-09-05
THE MONTANA WAY.
A Systematic Hanging i'm the
Early Days.

c"Ahy DsAySs
The citizens of Helena, Mont, had
long been accustomed to deal out JUS
tice to criminals. They found the
popular way far more speedy and eff
cient than the ordinary law courts.
Time gave them much experience in
handling criminals, and their calm,
unimpassioned, methodical way is
well illustrated in their treatment of
the villains who had attacked George
Lenhart.
Lenhart was kindhearted old
man, who was well known and widely
respected He was found one morn
ing lying senseless by the roadside
and covered with blood. On regain
ing consciousness he said that while
riding homeward the previous night
he had been overtaken by two horse
men. One of them shot him in the
thigh, and when he had fallen from
his horse they had beaten him to in
sensibiity. He described the men
and they were soon arrested and
lodged in jail
The following evening the citizens
met to talk the matter over. A gen.
eral discussion was held, and then
they quietly adjourned to meet the
following day. An hour before the
appointed time thousand men had
gathered at the place of meeting. A
chairman was appointed, and he stated
the general purpose for which they
had come together. There was not
the slightest excitement visible any
where; everything was quiet and
orderly as a camp-meeting.
A well-known merchant of the town
removed his hat and moved that a
Jury of twenty citizens be appointed to
obtain evidence, to listen to arguments
for the prosecution and the defense,
and to declare to the assembly the
the guilt or innocence of the persons
accused. The motion was seconded
and then carried. The jury was
selected and retired at once to a room
to begin its investigation.
Up to this time the prisoners had
remained in jail unmolested. But the
committe had use for them now, and
sent their marshal to bring them.
The marshal, with number of men,
waited upon the sheriff, but that
officer declined to surrender his pris-
oners. The marshal thereupon in
creased his force, seized the sheriff
and his deputies, and searched for the
keys. When these were found the
officers of the law were locked in a
room together and a guard placed
over them that they might not make
themselves troublesome. One of the
prisoners was then taken from the
prison and between double line Of
citizens was led to the committee
room. He made a full confession and
his accomplice did the same. The
committee, therefore, went out before
the assembly and reported that the
guilt of the prisoners was fully estab-
lished
At this juncture the district judge
appeared and asked to be hear |. Per-
mission was granted. He en-, red a
strong protest against the interference
with the civil authorities.
The Judge was listened to patiently
and respectfully. He was a good
enough man, but 'ey had heard sim
liar arguments fifty times before.
They had grown tired of sitting quiet
ly by awaiting the laws delay while
men were shot down and robbed day
after day.
Finally the vote was put by the
chairman: "What shall be done with
the prisoners ''Hang them!" was
the response. Again and more care
fully the question was put: "Is it
your decree that the prisoners, Joseph
Wilson and A. l.. Compton, shall be
taken to Pine Tree, in Dry Gulch. and
there be hanged by the neck until
they are dead?" at is; that the YER
Dict" came from almost every person
present.
1t was then 2:3O. A motion pre-
vailed that the prisoners be given till 4
o'clock to prepare for death. Through
out the entire proceedings the utmost
decorum and even solemnity prevailed
among the crowd, which had gradu-
allv swelled to 5000 souls. At no time
during the day had there been any
loud talking or boisterous demonstra-
ton.
At the appointed hour the gulch
presented the appearance of a vast
amphitheater. 1t was lined with a
dense mass of hnman beings, who
covered the hills also. At $3.50 the
men were taken from the room where
they had been confined. They were
placed in wagon, and each seemed
intent on the words of the priest that
was by his side. The wagon halted
under the branches of the fatal tree.
The rope was thrown over the limb,
prayers were said, the horses started.
and all was quickly over.-[St. Paul
Globe.